Tuesday was packed with activity. The day started with Zora at preschool (as usual) and Zane doing a bunch of literacy/comprehension testing (not usual). Since both kids were occupied, and mom was slated to come up that day, she came early so that we could go out for breakfast (very unusual). It was a really fun morning for us. A wonderful, relaxing breakfast, followed by some quick shopping, then back to pick up the kids.

Zane requested Ci-Cis for lunch, and since he had worked so hard all morning, we went there over Zora’s objections (she wanted McDonalds…for the playground. Zane doesn’t like McDs burgers and Zora often requests Ci-Cis herself, so he won this round). Both ate well, then, in reverse of the normal procedure, Zane and my mom went to play (Exploration Place) and Zora went with me. I had a WIC appointment to get that reinstated and she had to come with me. The appointment took most of the afternoon, most of it in waiting rooms. She was a trooper though. She didn’t even cry when they did the iron test (finger prick) and it was almost alien for me to have a child that easily followed directions (like where to stand to weighing and measuring).

By the time we got out of our WIC appointment, Mom and Zane were leaving Exploration Place to come back to our side of town for some ice cream at Braums. Zora and I picked up Zach and met her there. Zora wanted chocolate chip ice cream, Zane wanted birthday cake flavor and orange sherbet. Zach was in the middle of a project at home, but he stayed long enough to eat and socialize a little before heading back home to finish up his project on the computer. (he met us later at swim lessons).

Here is Zora right after showing us where she got her finger prick, and not quite sure why the adults started laughing like 12 yo boys when she enthusiastically showed us her finger.

After a while, Zane picked up the camera. Here are some of his photos:

And then Zora wanted a turn:

And me, from my cell phone

We had so much fun, but the adults were WORN OUT by the end of the day.

When I put the camera down (I was trying to get a picture of the “favorite things” he did) to get him some dried plums he requested, he picked up the camera. I set down the plums, and instead of giving the camera back, this is what he did:

I went to Towne East Mall today. It has been a while, and in my absence, they installed carpet all over the second floor. It looked good, which means it is probably pretty recent. lol. Helped a lot with the sound.

Found some good sales, although I couldn’t buy much. I went to see what was at Old Navy, but it was eerily empty to the point where I wonder if they are going out of business at this location. The few things that I saw online that I wanted were not marked down in the store, so I left with only one pair of fleece pants for Zora (boy’s fleece pants because girls are too wimpy for snow). I did find some shirts at Dillards for Zach for work. (His Hawaiian-style shirts are not working for winter for some reason) Nothing like $40-50 shirts for $11-$14. I got 3, which pretty much tapped me out so I headed home.

While away, Zach and the kids had fun. A little bit of soccer and then Zora wanted the camera.

~ Photography by Zora ~

We really need to think about getting the girl her own camera. It makes me nervous to hand over mine, but I enjoy seeing what she does.

Zane wanted to play with the camera. We first tried to give him the old camera, but he kept putting his fingers over the lense, so we let him use the good camera.

Please ignore the lawn. Before Zach mowed it like a normal person, he mowed a spiral path/maze into the lawn. Our landlord would be mortified, but Zane adores mazes and will spend a while out there navigating it.